Protecting vs. Silencing

Let me tell you a little something about myself: I am not afraid to speak my mind, whether you are a mama, a child, a legislator, or a police officer. Wearing a badge and carrying a gun does not afford you the right to make me feel unsafe without allowing me to express my objection. When you take a crowd that has proven itself again and again to be peaceful, if not orderly, and you hem it into a corner without good reason, you are damn straight I am going to tell you that you are making me feel unsafe, and that what you are doing is not ok with me.

And to the woman who was offended and felt I was “embarrassing myself” for speaking out when I was made to feel unsafe BY PEOPLE WHO ARE ALLEGEDLY THERE TO KEEP ME SAFE. I’m so sorry if I made you feel embarrassed, but I am certainly NOT embarrassed for standing up for myself. I don’t even know who you are, and I allowed you to make me feel ashamed for a moment, but no. I am NOT ashamed. And please don’t try to shame your sisters. You have every right to disagree with me, and I’m more than happy to talk about points of disagreement, but please don’t use shame and insults to convince me to behave the way you feel I should behave.

And to everyone else – I know a lot of people have an kneejerk affinity for police officers. I have been known to indulge in a crush or two in certain overflow rooms, myself. 😛 But make no mistake – those officers are not there to serve and protect us when they are penning us in and herding us around. They are there to divide us, dissipate us, and SILENCE US. That is NOT ok with me.

I’m sorry that I can’t quietly sit and watch an elected official blithely state that she is aware that the “pro-life” bill she is pushing for will, in fact, kill “some” women. I will not ask my brothers and sisters to shut their mouths while they helplessly listen to men tell us that they will “protect” our sisters to death with their laws. AND I WILL NOT APPLAUD THE DECORUM OF A CROWD SILENTLY WITNESSING A MAN GLEE AND SALIVATE OVER THE EXAGGERATED GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF A MEDICAL PROCEDURE THAT MOST WOMEN, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, DON’T FIND THAT ALL THAT PLEASANT TO UNDERGO.

Am I angry? Yes, you are damn right I am angry. Does that make me dangerous? Should I be embarrassed? Do I need to hide that anger? Abso-fucking-lutely not.